.22 or .177 Pellet Gun

Flannel

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Looking for a pellet gun to help manage a prairie dog population. Anyone able to recommend a solid .22 or .177 caliber pellet gun? Seen a couple online for about $140 which doesn't seem too bad but the scopes are reviewed poorly - wonder how a guy could upgrade that also. Thanks in advance
 


Prairie Doggin'

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I'm with Zman. 17 HMR. 17WSM is also a decent caliber, but rifles are a little pricier.
 


Captain Ahab

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Go to Pyramid Air and look around. I'd go with a .22 or even better go with a .25. I have a Benjamin Marauder .25 and it is a whole new level of pellet gunning. I also have a Benjamin .22 pumper that shoots really well.
 

tikkalover

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I'd buy several different calibers to see what one works the best. :;:smokin
 


Yoby

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Bolt action 22lr with surpresser and subsonic ammo
. They dont hear it coming and can hit hard. Launched some 10 or 15 rounds at 5 striped gophers before anyone them realized what was going on. P.S. dont try much over 100 as they wander bad.
 

Allen

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The question I have is how many acres are you trying to defend here?

I have a Gamo single pump air rifle and it's taken out a number of rabbits and muskrats without a problem. I suppose the range is sub 80-90 ft. Anything more than that and I tend to grab the old Ruger 10/22.

Nonetheless, if you are shooting at vermin in your front yard at relatively short ranges, I'd go with the air rifle. The upper crust models are amazing nowadays compared to the old 760s I shot as a kid. With a muzzle velocity approaching 1200 ft/s, it's like a one pellet shotgun. Only drawback to them is reloading time. A single shot break action isn't very forgiving when you miss and need to do a quick follow-up shot. That's where the 22 LR is nice, in whatever model you choose. The 17s are also pretty nice, but ammo is quite a bit pricier even if it isn't prohibitively expensive.

- - - Updated - - -

note: my Gamo has a similar recoil and nearly as much bark as a 22. I was shocked when I first shot it.
 

Allen

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I laugh every time I see that video and think if'n that were me, I'd probably wait a second before I walk into the house mumbling "got that effer".
 


PrairieGhost

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I have a nitro piston exchange barrel that came with the .177 and the .22 caliber. I shoot the .177 most because it groups are 1/2 the size of the .22 The squirrels drive me nuts in my yard so when season is on I got it out and at 1200 fps for the .177 and 1000 fps for the .22 neither do a very good job. Half will run away so I don't consider it humane and have gone to the 22lr with silencer. If I go outside and get them at under 50 feet it does an ok job, but the garden at 35 yards is beyond lethal. I have an older Sheridan Blue Steak 20 caliber and with the heavy pellets that puts them down fast. Like someone said get the 25 caliber Marauder.

PS get the heavy pellets for the .177 because with standard pellets you break the sound barrier and it's just as loud as the 22lr.
 
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